Effect of nitrate and ammonium on the growth and protein concentration of Microcystis viridis Lemmermann (Cyanobacteria)

(Effect of nitrate and ammonium on the growth and protein concentration of Microcystis viridis Lemmermann (Cyanobacteria)). Cyanobacteria are a very important group in aquatic systems, particularly in eutrophic waters. Therefore studies about their success in the environment are essential. Many hypotheses have tried to explain the dominance of Cyanobacteria, and several emphasized the importance of various nitrogen sources for the success of the group. In this study, we measured the effect of ammonium and nitrate on the growth and protein concentration of Microcystis viridis (Cyanobacteria). This species is well-known because bloom formation in eutrophic waters. The study was carried out, in experimental batch cultures, using the WC medium with different nitrogen sources: ammonium, nitrate, ammonium + nitrate (50% ammonium + 50% nitrate) and ammonium at different concentrations (to test for possible NH 4 + toxicity). Protein, ammonium and nitrate concentrations were measured at end of each experiment, whereas samples for cell counts were taken daily. Results showed that Microcystis viridis grew faster with ammonium (μ = 0.393 day) than with nitrate (μ = 0.263 day) and ammonium + nitrate (μ = 0.325 day). This pattern is explained by the metabolism of ammonium that presents higher uptake and assimilation rates than nitrate. Maximum cell concentration, however, was higher in the ammonium + nitrate treatment, followed by nitrate treatment. Higher protein concentration were observed in the treatment with nitrate. In the ammonium toxicity test, no difference between the control and NH 4 + at 50% was found. Thus, the ammonium concentrations used in these experiments were not toxic. Our results suggest that Cyanobacteria is able to grow on both nitrogen sources even if ammonium may allow faster growth and bloom development.